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== A Carolina Patriot -- Eliza Wilkinson (1782) & Grace Galloway's Diary (1778-89)==<br />
When reading the essay "A Carolina Patriot" in Woloch's book, there was an excerpt found from Eliza Wilkerson's wartime letters to an unspecified friend. I found it intersting that she said "For my part, "I would rather explore unknown regions, blessed with liberty, than remain in my native country if to be cursed with slavery"(p.123). '''Throughout this excerpt Eliza seems to be "inventing" herself - adopting the pose appropriate to a "female patriot".''' -Katie D.<br />
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I found the letter that Katie D. mentioned to be very interesting and I would agree with the statement that she seems to be "inventing" herself. Everything that she wrote is apparently saturated with patriotic thoughts and feelings. I am curious however just how common an attitude towards politics at the time was Eliza Wilkerson's or were more women inclined to have more of the feelings of Grace Galloway (starting on page 124). Grace Galloway's diary entries are such a total opposite to the letter of ELiza Wilkerson that a reader is battered with very strong opposing views. --Mary P.<br />
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'''In regards to Katie and Mary's comments, I am also curious about how a different audience would have altered Eliza Wilkerson's statements. How might her opinions or framing of opinions have been altered if voiced to a man? Would Eliza have the same feeling of invention?''' -Kelly Martin<br />
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I really liked these two letters. They seem to encompass the two extremes of the time period, the "female patriot" and the loyalist. However, i think its interesting that just from the one letter included in our reading from Galloway, '''we don't get a sense of her true poltical standpoint'''. She's mad and frankly pissed off because the patriots are coming in and forcefully removing her from her house. Wouldn't you be against someone who was so keen on taking your things away? What's interesting about comparing the two letters is that Locke's ideology of the right to personal liberties comes up in both of them. A lot of the termonology for the Revolution came from the work of John Locke who stated the idea that people had a right to "life, libery and property." One of the majoy ideas which fueled the revolution was this idea that the colonies were becoming enslaved to Britian because Parliment was taking away their property, among other things. Its interesting that this enslavement is brought up in Wilkinson's letter, in the section discussed by Maj. Moore, at which Wilkinson rejoices at the prospect of liberty. However, '''the idea of enslavement, or that lose of personal property is also vividly illustrated in Galloway's letter where she is being robbed of her liberty, her property by the very same people who are fighting to defend thier rights to property'''. ---Katelynn V.<br />
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I was interested in how the political atmosphere and/or personal political leanings would have affected Wilkerson's and Galloway's varying views on politics and the war. '''For example, while Wilkerson seems idealistic and interested in politics, would she have had the same enthusiasm as a Loyalist? Would Galloway have been merely irritated with the intrusion of politics in her life if her husband's Loyalist stance hadn't caused her to lose her home?''' --Ashley H.<br />
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Good question, I was actually wondering the same thing. I wonder what Galloway, herself believed. '''I wonder if given the oppurtunity, would she have wanted / been able to seperate her political opinions from her husbands? Are their accounts of husbands and wifes taking different sides of the politcal spectrum'''? I wonder if Galloway ever had the oppurtunity, while her husband was away, to assert herself as a woman with patriot leanings, and therefore avoid the scene of her being almost dragged from her house. --Katelynn Vance.<br />
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In regards to Eliza’s letter, I was also struck by her quote,''' “I would rather explore unknown regions, blessed with liberty, than remain in my native country if to be cursed with slavery.”''' It certainly paints a pretty bold picture. However, I always find it ironic when plantation owners, who are presumably slave owners, make comparisons to how wickedly they are being treated by others, when they themselves own slaves. Essentially saying, “It’s okay to treat someone else like that, just as long as it’s not me.”- Lisa Wilkerson <br />
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This could be totally wrong, but in the context of the letter, I don't think Maj. Moore is talking about slavery as we understand it today. He is probably referring to the seizing of property by the British government (i.e. what the colonists saw as tyranny though the Stamp Act and other laws passsed by Parliament at that time). Now, if I had not attended Prof. Hudgins’s American Revolution class yesterday, I totally would have thought the same thing. Yay for classes overlapping!--Kaitlyn G.<br />
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I agree with Lisa! This attitude makes just as much sense as a bunch of slaveholders writing a Constitution about equality and liberty. -- Allison J. <br />
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'''Another thing I found interesting was when Eliza Wilkinson's wrote,"I would not wish that we should meddle in what is unbecoming female delicacy...." She was so "progressive" in her views and how much she spoke out for the inclusion of women in areas beside domestic labor and yet she still fell victim to some gender stereotyping.''' --Alex K.<br />
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Perhaps Eliza was just appeasing the male ego when she wrote the above quote. I mean, men were in charge so it would be important not to ruffle too many feathers. -- Allison J. <br />
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One thing I found curious about the two letters is that each womens beliefs about women's roles conincide with which side they are taking. Eliza, who is a Patriot, believes women are just as politically and intellectually capable as men. The Patriots believed they were just as politically and intellectually capable as England to rule their own country. While Galloway, the Loyalist, would rather stay out of politics and let her husband deal with it. England would rather have the Americans basically stay out of England politics. -- Emily Miller<br />
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I was interested in the questions that Woloch raised in the introduction to the diary of Grace Galloway, a Loyalist Wife. Specifically, can women be held responsibile for their political opinions? In this case Galloway's property and inheritance was confiscated because she was a Loyalist. I thought this was a bit extreme considering her husband had already fled never to return and she didn't seem like a die hard loyalist in her diary and was more concerned about her possessions. '''Additionally, at the time women were thought to be politically ignorant. Was this instance more about show rather than politics?''' - Fiona Cobb<br />
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I couldn't help but feel sorry for Grace Galloway! The poor woman hated politics and because of her husband's standpoint as a Loyalist, she lost everything and never gained any of it back after the war, including the money left to her by her father. And what's worse is Joseph took Betsy with him! I just feel as though this is the perfect example of how women were unfortunately left to deal with their husband's choices since they did not have any of their own, because of their status as a femme covert. It's an unfortunate scenario and it just leaves me wondering, '''how many more women ended up like poor Grace?''' - Kelly Wuyscik<br />
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I believe Grace Galloway's case is one of the most excellent examples of Dr. McClurken's claim that women overwhelmingly remembered the deprivations and terrors of abuse,loss of property, and loss of lives. '''The reception she received by her supposed friends during the war is one of the numerous accounts of the true depth of the effects of war. Another interesting experience illustrated by her case was how femme covert status often cost a woman her property, even if she disagreed with her husband's politics.''' --A. Meyer<br />
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== Benjamin Rush's ''Thoughts Upon Female Education'' (1787) ==<br />
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While reading Benjamin Rush's "Thoughts Upon Female Education" '''I was struck by the change in the views concerning female education that we have come upon in just this short span that we have discussed.''' Where as before women were taught to read mostly so that they could read the Bible, now men are encouraged to promote the education of their daughters for the sake of their property, for women were often left as stewards of property and business during a husbands absence, but also, and from Rush's continuing mention of it importantly, the fact that these daughters will be growing up and getting married and having children, particularly sons, and they will have the task of educating these sons in a manner befitting their status and learning. --Mary P.<br />
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Mary, do not forget the part in that same document where Rush wrote about how important it was for women to read the Bible everyday. It does seem as though expectations and allowances for women's education grew in a short amount of time but let's keep in mind who these women were that Rush was writing about, I think he is addressing a certain class of woman not all women. --Julie Castanien <br />
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I agree with Mary regarding Rush's lecture on female education. Girls were actually going to be challenged academically in all of the subjects they formerly were kept away from. ''' What intrigued me about this lecture, however, is that it was aimed towards men in the audience and not actually the girls who would be undergoing this new academic change.''' And not only was it directed at men, but at men of a much higher social class who would be in charge of allowing this change to happen. It really shows how the elite were coming into play and actually becoming a threat to the rest of the colonists. ('''I also enjoy that he refused to let students study French, but that's a bit off-topic''') - Kelly Wuyscik<br />
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While it was refreshing to see a man so early in his time argue that women should be allowed to have the same amount of education and that they are capable of it, '''it seemed that he wanted them to have the education only so they could help the men.''' He says "They (women) must be the stewards and guardians of their husbands' property" (131), "There are certain occupations in which she may assist her husband with this knowledge..."(III 132) ".. there by qualify her not only for a general intercourse with the world but to be an agreeable compannion for a sensible man.." (IV 132) and my favorite, '''"If men believe that ignorance is favorable to the government of the female sex, they are certainly deceived, for a weak and ignorant woman will always be governed with the greatest difficulty."''' (133) Therefore, even though it is nice to know that he found women intellectually capable, it sounds like to me that Rush is saying men need women to be educated to help men in affairs and to make women more easily governed. -- Emily Miller<br />
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I agree with Emily, it is interesting how some men suddenly desired the education of women for the good of the male sex. What I find intriguing, however is the fact that Rush pointed out that women hold the task of raising and educating their sons as a reason for the education of women. '''But haven't women always been in charge of educating their sons?''' I believe the real reason behind this new movement is not a changing of values, but rather the commercial revolution. Now that colonists have more property to protect, they are more willing to bend tradition slightly to do so. After all, property is the most scared of natural rights. ~ Juliann Boyles<br />
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Its interesting that the lecture by Rush about women was actually directed toward men. But its not really surprising, who else was directing culture and such things at this time? Its also worth noting how its put into contrast with Great Britain, just a few years after the American Revolution. Does this represent a self-conscious attempt to different what it means to be American from that of British? -- Christopher Plummer<br />
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I think in Rush realized because living in America was different than living in England the education of women had to be different. I don’t think he was using this lecture as a way of forming an American identity, but rather saying since circumstances are different in America, the people must adapt to work with what they have.--Cheryl<br />
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== Esther DeBerdt Reed's "Sentiments of an American Woman" (1780) ==<br />
'''I thought that it was interesting how in Esther DeBerdt's "Sentiments of an American Woman", she freely admits that women have "...feeble hands..." (115).''' I would have thought that a comment like that would be more likely to come from a man of that time and not a woman. ~Katherine S.~<br />
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'''In response to Katherine's comment, I believe that although some women were patriots, most still accepted the validity of their genders role in society.''' Although women like Esther DeBerdt and Abagail Adams may have been radical in their arguments for the female sex, most would agree that they were still fairer, gentler even weaker in nature. If you dare come these patriots to the feminists of the 20th century, I am sure you would find them very conservative. Esther DeBert it seems, argued mostly for recognition of actions women were already taking, such as the boycotting of enumerated products, rather than fronting a movement for a revolution in women's rights. ~Juliann Boyles<br />
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I also enjoyed reading Esther DeBerdt Reed's piece. By showing examples of past women who struggled on behalf of their own nations, Esther bolsters her argument. I like the fact that she did not try to argue in passive manner. She asserts herself and her fellow women who want to do more to serve their nation. Her sentiments are much more convincing and empowering due to the manner in which she presented herself. --E. Hufford<br />
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Esther DeBert's piece was made even more interesting by the fact that she says that "women have been seen forgeting the weakness of their sex." This definitely makes it seem like DeBerdt does not see women as nearly as weak as they are usually portrayed. Some of the other readings went on about how weak women were-- they could help, but they were still weak. DeBert on the other hand shows women leaving their perceived weakness behind. -- Allison J. <br />
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== Mary Jemison ==<br />
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I felt that the way Mary Jemison described the Native Americans in the article "The War for Independence...", made them seem very materialistic. It seemed that all the Native Americans cared about were the goods they were going to receive from the British and nothing else. ~Katherine S.~<br />
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I felt that Mary Jemison Views the Revolution was a great account of the War for Independence. Mary’s descriptions were not that of a typical woman. She describes scenes of prisoners being punished that many women would not even want to watch let alone observe and write about. I especially like the end of her story when she writes of how she hired herself out to an escaped black slave and how she was not too worried about the gun the slave stood over her with. I doubt many women of the colonial settlements would do the same.--Cheryl<br />
I also found it surprising that the Native Americans so quickly gave up the six nation treaty they had created the year before when the British Commissioners asked for their help in fighting against “the rebels.” When Jemison described the British Commissioners coming before the Chiefs to try and convince them to help I really hoped the Chiefs would be able to look past their promises of material goods and an alliance with a rich King. Sadly the Chiefs were blind sighted by the promises of wealth and agreed to fight against what the British promised to be “only a few easily subdued people who deserve the punishment for their disobedience to the King.” Just a few passages later Jemison refers to a battle in the spring of 1776 when the Indians were completely beaten and thirty-six died. It seems like the “sorrow and distress” that quickly falls over the town when the warriors returned from the battle could have been easily avoided if the Chiefs had just stood their ground and not given in to the British demands.—Caitlin Quinn<br />
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== Anonymous American Woman Asserts Women's Rights ==<br />
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I really enjoyed reading "An American Woman Asserts Women's Rights." I found it interesting that this woman flat out said that many women would do whatever they could to help the revolution during this time when many men felt like women wouldn't want to give up their luxuries to help the cause. I also enjoyed how she compared american women to the women of antiquity who helped save their nations. - Elizabeth Frank<br />
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'''I also enjoyed reading "An American Woman Asserts Women's Rights." I am the sap that this stuff was written for- I immediately felt like I could go dig a trench or build a wall to help our good ole' boys.''' I thought it was an excellent propoganda piece and could serve to get women who are not interested in politics involved in the fight for America's independence.- Lisa Wilkerson<br />
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Agreeing with Lisa, "An American Woman Asserts Women's Rights" is a terrific piece of propaganda. '''I don't think anything else could have persuaded women more during the revolution to give up their luxuries like tea and fine textiles like another woman "just like them" telling them to do so'''. This piece did nothing but emphasize how important women could be and it is a great way to get women involved in supporting the revolution, especially if they were not the kind to immediately do so. - Kelly Wuyscik<br />
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== Abigail Adams and Her Entourage ==<br />
<br />
'''When reading Abigail Adams' correspondence with her husband John and friend Mercy, I found myself sympathizing with Abigail.''' Her frustration with John when he wrote. "As to your extraordinary Code of Laws, I cannot but laugh" must have been great. Reading her letter to Mercy about John's repsonse seems as though it could have been written by a woman today to a friend complaining about her husband's actions.-- E. Hufford<br />
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I agree with those thoughts on the letters of Abigail Adams. And '''I find it revealing in John Adams' character. He's a historically important figure in our nations history and we hold him on a high pedestal for that. But he still thinks typical thoughts of the time period with regards to women and their "rights."''' His comments not only include the "I cannot but laugh comment" but even to say "We know better than to repeal our Masculine systems." We can continue to think of John Adams as a great man and important to the founding of our nation, but we must recognize his averageness in his thoughts. If that made any sense at all. -- Vanessa Smiley<br />
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I agree that it is important to note that John Adam's thoughts were typical of the time period. However, it was a bit surprising that he put his wife in the same category as children, apprentices, Indians, and slaves. He knew she was well educated but the fact that she was a woman was the overriding factor. - Fiona Cobb <br />
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When reading the letters of Abagail Adams, her husband's response also intrigued me, but in a different way. '''Instead of looking at how typical John Adams's reaction was, shouldn't we consider how atypical it might have been?''' Although John does not quite take his wife seriously, there seems to be a lot of respect for her intellectual capabilities. Although John may have believed in the tradition of male authority, I cannot help but notice the admiration he has for his wife, and the playfulness between the two of them. It seems that the relationship shared between Abagail and John was quite different in nature to the one shared between Grace Galloway and her husband. '''I wonder how more common romantic love was in relationships during this time period.'''~Juliann Boyles<br />
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I think Abigail Adams statement to "pay particular care and attention" to the ladies or they are "determined to forment a rebellion" was priceless! Then her husband calls her "saucy". It is amazing to see that even in a relationship like the Adams' had the notion of women being fragile and needing their husbands protection and guidance was still made very clear. ~~Mary Beth Conrad<br />
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I wonder how much of Abigail Adams's claims of women being "placed by providence under your protection" was an attempt to flatter her husband's ego and appeal to his sense of chivalry. '''Did she really feel women needed protection, or was she merely aware of what men needed to hear in order to consider the rights of women?'''-- Ashley H.<br />
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The letters between the Adams was also really interesting because it does show that although Adams is romaticized in American history, he was still a man of times. Its interesting that he refers to patriarchy as a 'theory' when he says about the 'masculine systems' that they "are little more than a theory." What exactly does that mean? That its merely a good model for behavior? I certainly don't think they were so detached toward these norms that they could truly think of them as a "theory." Its interesting to see him change the subject from "masucline systems" holding women down to a discussion of independence from the "peticoat." It seems to suggest that Adams didn't quite notice the similarity of the 'oppression' of women as the same as the peticoat toward the American. <br />
-Christopher Plummer<br />
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Abigail Adams letter to her husband John Adams was the most recognizable primary document out of the readings this week. It’s probably hard to avoid Abigail Adams when talking about U.S. Women’s history. I found John Adams letter sent in response to Abigail’s initial letter interesting because it gives us insight into how seriously she was taken, which unfortunately was not very seriously. Instead, John Adams tells her to be patient and that the leaders do not really have as much power to change the system as she gives them credit for. Abigail then sends a letter to her friend Mercy Warren about the exchange. I think it would have been interesting to see how Warren would have responded to Abigail’s letter. -- Jennifer Feldhaus<br />
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== Phillis Wheatley's address to George III ==<br />
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I felt that Phillis Wheatley's address to George III was an amazing piece of literature. I think it was so clever to include the words free and equal into her poem. Wheatley was treated a lot differently from most slaves . She was educated among white children, and was even sent to Europe to progress is studies and writing. '''Did her owners really read her poem?''' I am sure they were delighted for her--and them because they own her. '''But did they hear it? Did anyone else see those underlying messages for freedom from slavery? Did anyone agree with her underlying tones of the poem?''' - Talya Halpern<br />
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I am sure that people saw the underlying themes of Wheatley's poems, or else the political ones not have been excluded from her book. I'm wondering if people just dismissed her underlying theme of freedom as something they'd expect from a female enslaved. However, its also possible that they didn't see the themes or didn't want to because they assumbed that slavery was a good thing and africans were not fully human, therefore didn't have the same need for freedom and property. Wheatley was very much the exception to the rule, which is why she was paraded around so much and expected to share her poetry because she brought attention and probably prestige to the Wheatley family. Although, on a completely different thought...'''When should we stop analyzing poetry, how do we as historians know we've taken our interpretatons too far. How should we walk the fine line of interpretting the poem for its historical content without completely turning our back on the message the author intended their readers to understand. How can historians ensure that they're not missing the point of the authors work by picking apart a poem line by line for possible historical signifigance?''' ----Katelynn V. <br />
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I have to agree with Talya that Wheatley was very clever and I think it's possible she was underestimated by those around her. She was obviously intelligent but her cleverness leads me to think she could outsmart even her owners. Of course, we will probably never know, but I like to think she had a few laughs at the expense of others as she wrote this poem as well as her others. -- Vanessa Smiley<br />
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I found Phillis Wheatley's poem to King George III interesting. How was it that Woloch was able to interpret the poem as a subtle jab at the King yet the those in England who screened her book of poetry for poems of Revolution missed it? Nevertheless, I agree with those above that it was a very clever way to get her views across. --Alex K.<br />
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I agree with Talya's assessment of Phillis Wheatley's poem. '''As I was reading it, I couldn't help but wonder how different her situation could have been had she been enslaved on a rural, Southern plantation as opposed to being in Boston.''' This also makes me wonder: I know her poems were published in England, but were they read widely in the US? If so, how were the accepted, especially since they were the work of an African American woman?--Kaitlyn G.<br />
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I also found Phillis Wheatley's poem to be particularly memorable. I am surprised that her master, John Wheatley, allowed her the education she received. I am curious of his intentions in allowing for this. The poem included exemplifies the power of satire. As a fan of modern satirical programming, I can appreciate the strength of its belied impact. In the case of Phillis Wheatley, she seems to have left her poem raveled in such cleverness that its true meanings may only be known to her. As such, it would carry importance based upon the interpretation of those reading it, a very effective method indeed. --Robert Kopp<br />
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From all the readings this week the one thing that stuck out most to me was this feeling of being stuck between obligation/expectations and personal desires for women during the American Revolution. The revolution stirred up a lot of ideas of “equality” and “freedom” for all types of minority groups…poor whites, free blacks, black slaves, Native Americans and women. I think the readings point to a women’s need to fulfill expectations yet wonder if there were things that needed to be changed. Many of the women discuss their role in helping fight/support the British and their sense of patriotism that was both an obligation and a desire for women. When it came to things such as education, we see the idea of empowering women with certain rights, yet the expectations still remain…a women should be polite, moral, submissive, a good wife and a good mother. What expectations, if any, did the American Revolution actually change? Was the revolution more of an ideological change or were there concrete social changes evident? Were the changes and the increase power/interest we do see, from and for women’s rights truly unique to the revolution, a consequence of the revolution or a continuation of obligation and expected roles? -- Mary Beth D.<br />
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== A Core Debate in History ==<br />
'''Just because it needs to be said somewhere, as an addition to Dr. McClurken's lecture Tuesday, the following women deserve at least equal recognition to Mercy Otis Warren for their role in inspiring and rousing men to engage in resistance to the British. This is not intended to romanticize women's activities during the Revolution any more than history textbooks romanticize men's activities during the Revolution. These women adopted courageous roles and they deserve credit as individuals for their activities''': <br />
*Hannah Arnett--When the men were considering signing the Howe brothers proclamation of loyalty, she burst into their discussion and made a rousing speech and presentation convincing them not to sign the proclamation<br />
*Penelope Barker and the Edenton, NC ladies--created their own proclamation promising to boycott importation of cloth and tea from England, along with their own little tea party demonstration<br />
*Faith Robinson Trumbull--wife of the Governor of Connecticut, urged the people of her parish to donate to the American soldiers, giving the cloak she received from Rochambeau (the French commander)<br />
*Prudence Wright--organized the women of her village in dressing in their men's clothing and carrying guns to defend the bridge at Groton against the British<br />
*The Livingston women--married to all the most influential New York politicians, their letter writing to most of the founding fathers is cited by Linda Kerber and Mary Beth Norton as an example of women actively campaigning for independence and writing persuasively to their family and friends, who happened to be the leading law makers and decision makers in their colony's politics, making them comparable to the tired and favored example of Mercy Otis Warren.<br />
Furthermore, while we need to be careful to recognize the effects of the horrors of war on women's lives during the Revolution, women who acted heroically deserve to have their stories told without being dismissed as simply exceptions or romantic stories, because history textbooks are filled with the stories of men who are also exceptions (George Washington, John Adams, Ben Franklin). While it is quite necessary to convey to students the exceptional nature of these women's experiences and it's impossible for Dr. McClurken--or any other professor or teacher--to address the majority of these accounts with current curriculum requirements, they deserve to be remembered, and I consider this a small attempt to add to the individual stories we've begun classes with. <br />
--A. Meyer<br />
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I appreciate Andrea's addition of important and influential women. If we went over all these women in class I think it would be November before we got out of the 1700s. It is too bad that we were not taught more about women like this throughout our education. It sometimes surprises me when I hear how little I know about history's important women and I have made an effort to learn about them, what of those who make no effort at all? Oh well I guess it will be my job to try to make them want to learn more. Julie Castanien</div>80.4.149.42 Deprecated: header(): Passing null to parameter #3 ($response_code) of type int is deprecated in /home/umwhisto/public_html/mcclurken/wiki/includes/WebResponse.php on line 38